ELeVATE gives freshmen a jump start

Armed with a more aggressive recruiting effort, the sixth annual iteration of what is now known as ELeVATE camp saw increased numbers and, based on early observations, an equal enthusiasm for exploring engineering efforts.

This year’s camp for freshmen in the Lohr College of Engineering drew 45 students from Sunday, Aug. 16, to Friday, Aug. 21, which was campus move-in day for other freshmen. 

The camp was coordinated by professor Suzette Burckhard, assistant dean for academic affairs in the college. “Camp attendance nearly doubled to 45 this year,” she said. “We rebranded camp as a combined get-ready-for-college experience and a leadership camp. And we wanted to be much more visible with marketing,” which included flyers and a speaker at New Student Orientation during the summer and a flyer on the college’s social media accounts. 

Students from eastern South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and as far away as Missouri and Michigan participated. 

In addition, a personal letter from the Office of Admissions was sent to Pell Grant-eligible students. “However, our best tool was word of mouth, a student chatting with his future roommate,” Burckhard said.

Support for the ELeVATE program comes from the David and Shelley Frazee Scholarship Fund. David also joined the students one morning for team activities and a talk on the role of engineering in industry. 

Frazee, a 1982 SDSU electrical engineering graduate who now lives in the Twin Cities, said he attended part of the camp last year. He was inspired by the experience and shared with Burckhard and Dean Sanjeev Kumar that he wanted to make the program “more impactful so engineers get off on the right foot.”

“I’ve been wanting to prioritize our (SDSU) foundation investment to students from smaller towns and schools, those with fewer opportunities that bigger cities and high schools have, like AP curriculum, and even first-in-the family college attendees. So we decided to get serious with our investment,” Frazee said.

One thing that didn’t change from the previous five camps is that the week was free for all students. They get a jump on moving into their residence hall, their meals and activity costs are covered, and this year’s class received a Jackrabbit blue quarter-zip shirt with “ELeVATE” emblazoned on the sleeve.

“As the program develops, I believe every engineering student will want to be a part of this,” Frazee said.